During 2003, both the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program published major studies of economic and social conditions in Colombia and the causes and consequences of conflict, including policy recommendations for sustainable and equitable growth and development as well as reform. The World Bank's 900-plus page study, Colombia: The Economic Foundation of Peace, and the United Nations Development Program's human development report, El conflicto: callejón con salida, offer comprehensive diagnoses of the relationship between violence and civil conflict, detailing, among other issues, the human costs of the war, the crisis of the rural sector, and offering recommendations for macroeconomic and social policy reform.

The Latin American Program joined with the Council of the Americas to host "A Conversation with White House Chiefs of Staff on the Politics of Trade." Andrew Card, Chief of Staff for President George W. Bush, opened the discussion by describing President Bush's goal to create a better and safer America. The Honorable John Podesta, The Honorable Thomas McLarty, The Honorable John Sununu, and The Honorable James Jones offered comments based on their experience as Chiefs of Staff and in their other roles.Zanny Minton-Beddoes of The Economist moderated the discussion and talked about U.S. leadership in the trading system and the increased complexity of trade policy today.